Boston's 10 Hottest Coffee Shops

By Scott Kearnan | February 23, 2015

Maybe it's the big student population that needs all that late-night caffeine, but Boston has a pretty solid set of java joints. Each of these opened within the last year, adding a little extra buzz to the local coffee lover's world.

After two decades as a Berkshires-based micro-roaster, this company first expanded into cafe settings in Boston's Fort Point, serving drip- and flash-brewed international java alongside artisanal teas and locally sourced pastries. A cool vibe meets coffee science at the newer Back Bay location, opened this winter, where a state-of-the-art machine brews pour-over-style drinks to precision with four futuristic glass cylinders.

Must-Order: Barrington frequently unveils new espressos with unique flavor profiles. Its latest: the 413, which boasts varietals created through the roaster's long-term farm projects in India, Brazil and Colombia. You'll find notes of malt, maraschino cherry and molasses.

On the Menu: Keep an eye out for tasty scones in varieties like bacon and Gruyère.

Ok, it's not strictly a coffee shop, per se. But coffee and donuts go together like peanut butter and jelly, and this buzzing newcomer serves both to early-bird crowds who grab-and-go from its small South End spot.

Must-Order: Whether you want drip or cold-brew, the coffee is as unique as the donut flavors. Blackbird's coffee is a bold custom blend from Fazenda Coffee Roasters, a Dedham-based micro with a cafe in Jamaica Plain.

On the Menu: The sweet and savory donuts are always changing, but right now you'll find maple miso, lemon cream bismarck, pepperoni pizza and the solid standby vanilla glaze.

Downtown denizens have a new home for java, sandwiches and gooey goodies at this European coffeehouse. When it opened in 2014, the Downtown location became the first stateside entry by the chain, which has 500 outposts across the U.K. alone. Last month a second Boston branch opened in the arty neighborhood of Jamaica Plain.

Must-Order: The European brand added drip coffee for its American locations, but you'll want to discover the Italian espresso that made it famous — perhaps in the form of a smooth, foamy latte.

On the Menu: Three words: limoncello mascarpone cake. Three more: to die for.

Speaking of imports: in November, Assembly Row in Somerville welcomed the latest stateside location of PAUL, a chain that has 600 bakeries in 34 countries. There are only a few American outposts of the brand, and this one joins a buzzing retail and restaurant destination that recently unveiled Legal on the Mystic, Earls Kitchen + Bar, River Bar and American Fresh.

Must-Order: PAUL uses Lavazza coffee for drinks like this cappuccino.

On the Menu: Fresh-baked breads hold together sandwiches like the signature Mixte, a baguettine with butter, ham and Swiss cheese.

Must-Order: Because we drink iced coffee all year round in New England, how about the horchata with a twist? Espresso from Intelligentsia Coffee Roasters is combined with housemade rice milk, vanilla and cinnamon, and served over ice.

On the Menu: Forge is selling its own line of housemade jams, helpful for disguising your less-impressive baking skills at home.

A small move made a big difference for this cult hit. The 15-seat space is the bakery's first to offer a nonshared kitchen, doubling the donut output and introducing batches of additional pastries (like cinnamon buns and croissants) as well as its first savory donuts, in varieties like spinach-feta-onion.

We're pretty excited whenever anything new opens near North Station. So this latest branch of the small local-coffee and baked-goods brand (found at 99 Canal Street) is a godsend when you're waiting for the train — or need to grab something sweet before a Bruins game.

Must-Order: Though we love their espresso drinks like lattes and macchiatos, this coffee company also puts out a great hot chocolate on cold days.

On the Menu: While the competition has grown thick, Boston Common continues to hold its own in the donut sphere, with oft-rotating flavors like sweet corn-white chocolate and cranberry-balsamic.

Pastries are the main draw at this South End newcomer from acclaimed chef Frédéric Robert, a James Beard Award winner and decades-spanning collaborator with Alain Ducasse. But they're complemented by small-batch coffee from La Colombe, a 20-year-old roasting company with a handful of cafes in NYC, Philly, Chicago and DC.

The walls are lined with works by local artists, and the cases stocked with decadent, chocolaty pastries at this friendly Massachusetts Avenue java joint. Local laptop warriors are lured by a caffeine happy hour, free WiFi and a community-minded vibe.